Phonograph or graphophone, &amp;c.



No.- 741,462. PATENTED 001". 13, 190-3.

W. CLIFTON & B. OAKSPORD.

PHONOGRAPH 0R GRAPHOPHONE, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED we. 2. 1902. 110 MODEL. 2 sums-SHEET 1.

v: mam: Farms co. PNOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. n.

No. 741,462. PATBNTED OUT. 13, 1903.

- W. GLIFTQN & B. OAKSFORD.

PH'OIIOGRAPH OR GRAPHOPHONE, &o.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 2. 1902.

2 smms snmrr 2.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 13, 1903."

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ERNEST CLIFTON AND BERTIE OAKSFORD, OF NOTTINGHAM,

' ENGLAND.

PHONOGRAPHOR GRA'PHOPVHONE, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters: Iatent No. 741,462, dated October13, 1903.

Application filed August 2,

I To on whom it may'concermr Be it knownthat we,WILLIAM ERNEST CLIF TONand BERTIE OAKSFORD, subjects of the 'King of Great Britain, andresidents of Nottingham, England, have invented certain new reproducingmechanism of sound recording and reproducing instruments, such asphonographs, graphophones, or the like.

The object of this invention is to provide the stylus or recording-toolof such mechanism with a movement against a predetermined resistance inthe plane of the surface of the record, so that the said stylus orrecording: tool can give way or yield to the lateral pressure itreceives from the record as it rotates and neutralize any falsevibrations set up from this cause and at the same time transmit thevibrations from the record direct to the diaphragm, or vice versa. Itsfurther object is to hold the diaphragm in position without stiffeningor cramping it, so that it can vibrate freely.

4 Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the under side, andFig. 2 a sectional.

elevation, of recording or reproducing mechanism constructed accordingto our invention. Fig. 3 is a view of the under side, and Fig. 4 asectional elevation, of recording or reproducing mechanism,showing astructural modification. Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating amethod of holding and supporting the sound-box so as to give the sameresult. Fig.

6 is an end elevation of the adjustable attachment.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings' According toone'method of carrying out our invention the diaphragm A (see Figsyl to4) of a phonograph or graphophone sound recorder or reproducer-is placedin the recess in the sound box B with=an in'dia-rubber or like washerrorpacking-ring B between the said diaphragm and the bottom of the recess.The diaphragm A is held in this position by anexternal pillar C, theinner end of which 1902. serial No. 118 .126. (N0 model.)

bears on the center of the diaphragm A,

while its outer end is provided with "either a reprodueing stylus O, asshown, or a record-.. ing or cutting tool.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the pillar G is held in position by three orany other suitable numher of elastic radial stays D, which may each beformed of an elastic substance or, as shown, by coiling a wire .of therequisite strength into a spiral spring. .The'inner end of each stay Dis connected to a collar 0 near the outer end of the pillar C and theirouter ends to studs B on the sound-box B. The inner end of the pillar Ois thus held firmly on the center of the diaphragm-A and the latter onits seat on the packing-ring B, solely by the the stylus or tool canthis give way or yield in the plane of the surface of the record whenthe nature of the recording-line on the surface of the latter causeslateral pressure to be exerted on the former, While the pillar maintainsarigid vertical connection between the record and diaphragm.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the pillar O is held in position by flexiblebut inelastic stays D, arranged radially, as previously described. Thesestays D are arranged in pairs, as shown, and they are held taut bysprings F, arranged in the angular space between each pair of stays. Theends of these springs F are connected to the stays on each side of theangular space at a point midway between their ends, as shown, and saidsprings thus pull the stays out of the radial line and hold them taut.Lateral pressure on the stylus or recording-tool tends to pull the staysD on one side into the radial or straight line against the action of thesprings F, while those on the opposite side are pulled by the springsfarther out of the radial line to take up any slackness. Thisarrangement acts in precisely the same manner as that previouslydescribed, but it is a little stronger in construction and is thereforebetter fitted for rough usage.

If preferred, the inner end of the pillar U maybe formed with aknife-edge, and a metal seat, which may take the form of a ring orannulus, is secured on the center of the diaphragm for the saidknife-edge to rest upon. The same result may be obtained by employingthe device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which is constructed so that it maybe attached to the ordinary tube connection or fixture used at thepresent time on the well-kn own graphephone or similar machines.

I11 the arrangement shown the sound-box B is connected to the outer endof a coiled spring G, through which latter the connecting-tube II iscarried for convenience. The inner end of the spring G is attached to apart I, provided with a tube connection I and a stalk 1 The stalk I ismounted in a tangential hole in a boss J, mounted on a pin or extensionK on a bracket K, which latter is adapted to fit on the ordinary tubeconnection or fixture M. The stalk I is adjustable in the boss J ,andthe latter is adjustable about the pin K, both being locked by one screwJ in the boss J. A vertical and angular adjustment is thus provided, andthe part I to which the spring G is attached may thus be adjusted so asto increase or diminish the pressure of the stylus G on the record N.The spring G in this case also permits of the stylus or recording-toolmoving or yielding in any direction in the plane of the surface of therecord, but such movement is not independent of the sound-box, as in thefirstdescribed arrangement, but the whole moves together against theaction of the spring G. The tube II is elastic, so that it does notinterfere with the action of the spring G, which latter may beincorporated in the wall of the tube II, or the said tube II may be madeof india rubber and with walls of sufficient strength to form an elasticarm without the aid of a spring. This arrangement may be used withrecorders or reproducers of any constru ction, but the best results areobtained by combining both the arrangements described, as shown in Fig.(5, as with the first-mentioned arrangement the pressure of the styluson the record must be accurately adjusted and at the same time be freeto follow any irregularities in the track on the latter. This result isbest obtained by supporting the reproducer on the outer end of anelastic arm, such as that provided by the spring G, which partiallysupports the reproducer, and thus takes some of the weight from andrelieves the record.

The yielding movement of the stylus in the plane of the surface of therecord reduces the wear 011 the latter and the production of natural andnon-metallic tones and a better balance between the treble and bassnotes is obtained.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In recording or reproducing mechanism of phonograph, graphophone orlike sound recording and reproducing instruments, the combination of asound-box, a stylus or recording-tool, and flexible supporting meanswhich is also elastic in the direction of its length so that the stylusor recording-tool can move in any direction and more particularly in adirection parallel both to the surface of the record and its plane ofrotation against the resistance offered by the said supporting means,nbsiantially as described.

2. In recording or reproducing mechanism of phonographs, gramophones orlike sound recording and reproducing instruments, the combination of asound-box, a diaphragm in said box, a stylus or recording-tool, a pillarto carry the same, and springs supporting said pillar arranged radially,their inner ends being connected to the outer end of the pillarand'their outer ends to the exterior of the sound-box, substantially asdescribed.

In recording or reproducing mechanism of phonograph graphophone or likesound recording and reproducing instruments, the combination of asound-box, a diaphragm in said box a stylus or recording-tool, a pillarto carry the same having its inner end resting on the diaphragm, pairsof flexible supporting-stays connected to said pillar and sound-boxrespectively and yielding means for holding said stays taut,substantially as described.

4:. In recording or reproducing mechanism of phonograph, graphophone orlike sound recording and reproducing instruments, the combination of asoundbox, a diaphragm in said box, astylus or recording-tool, a pillarto carry the same having its inner end resting on its diaphragm, pairsof flexible supporting-stays connected to said pillar and sound-boxrespectively, and springs interposed between pairs of said stays inorder to pull them out of the radial line and hold them taut,substantially as described.

5. In recording or reproducing mechanism of phonograph, graphophone orlike sound recording and reproducing instruments, the combination of asound-box, a diaphragm, a stylus or recording -tool in connection withthe diaphragm, an arm which is flexible and elastic in the direction ofits length for supporting the sound-box so that it can move in adirection longitudinally to the arm and parallel to both the surface ofand the plane of rotation of the record, and means for adjusting thesaid arm, substantially as described.

G In recording or reproducing mechanism of phonograph, graphophone orlike sound recording and reproducing instruments, the combination of asound-box, a diaphragm in said box, a stylus or recol'dingtool, a pillarfor carrying the same having its inner end ICO resting 011 thediaphragm, elastic stays for names to this specification in the presenceof supporting the outer end of said pillar, a horitwo subscribingWitnesses. zontal arm which is flexible and elastic in the i i WILLIAMERNEST CLIFTON.

d1reot1on of 1ts len th for SUPPOI'UDO the 1 5 sound-box, and means forvertically and an- BERTIL OAKSFORD' gularly adjusting said arm,substantially as Witnesses: described. MARK SHAW,

In testimony whereof We have signed our I ALFRED CLARKE.

